T-Bird Track & Field NJCAA Region I & 10K Recap
Wednesday April 23, 2025 - 6:30 p.m. | Dylan DeVlieger
Mesa Track & Field competed in the NJCAA Region I Multis & 10k on Monday and Tuesday as they head towards postseason action next week.
Women's Track:
The Lady T-Birds picked up 21 points thanks to their efforts in the Heptathlon and the 10k. Sara Jacobson and Natalia Brzezniak represented Mesa in the Heptathlon as Jacobson came in 2nd (5055 points) while Brzreniak finished 4th (3863 points).
Jacobson excelled in the Shot Put, Javelin Throw, and 800m where she took first in all events. Jacobson's only finish that was not first or second was the 100m Hurdles where she took third. Jacobson finished just 56 points behind Central Arizona's Aliyah Gidharry who took home first.
Brzezniak was consistent throughout the events as she took 4th in the 100m Hurdles, High Jump and 200m. Brzezniak had her best showing in the 800m where she finished 3rd, though she did struggle in the Long Jump and Javelin Throw where she came in 6th place in each.
Brzezniak and Jacobson were separated by less than a second in the 800m (final event). Multis coach Erwin Jones was excited and proud of both Brzezniak and Jacobson for their exciting finish to the event all while setting PRs in the 800m.
"The most exciting was the finish of the Heptathlon. All three girls with huge PR's ran 2:24. Dynamic finish to a two day event," said coach Jones.
Carmella Baldwin was the first Lady T-Bird to cross the finish line in the 10k as she came in 3rd place (40:13.15). Kinley Jackson was a few minutes behind as she came in 7th (43:43.77) and Destiny Hernandez finished 10th (48:49.44).
Men's Track & Field:
Zion Atwood was the lone T-Bird in action in the Decathlon as he finished in 3rd place in a field dominated by Pima Aztecs.
Atwood finished in first place in both the Pole Vault and the 1500m while securing second in the Discus Throw, 400m, and the Shot Put. Atwood stumbled a bit in the 100m and the High Jump where he finished fifth. Coach Jones is impressed with Atwood's ability to keep pushing as he has done all season long.
"Really impressed with Zion' s dedication and determination just starting in December. He stuck with it all the way through, working hard in all ten events," said coach Jones.
In the 10k Nick Valle led the way for Mesa as he finished in 3rd place (32:20.69). Gabriel Gonzales took 6th (33:14.62), Cal Schnepf was close behind in 7th (33:20.67), while Dilin Nguyen finished in 10th (35:23.39).
Overall in the 10K Mesa had two top three finishes and three top seven finishes. With the Lady T-Birds trailing first place Pima by 13 points, and the T-Bird men trailing the Pima men by 28 points, Mesa will have a hill to climb if they hope to get back to the top of Region I. Interim head coach Dan Pescador and company know they have their work cut out for them next week.
"We had a pretty good start to region championships in the 10k. Nick ran a very patient and controlled race to finish 3rd! Carmella and Kinley ran great coming off our recent meet in CA," said coach Pescador, "overall we didn't get the points we wanted or were capable of, but proud of the efforts that everyone put in. Now we turn our focus to the remainder of events on Tuesday and Thursday."
The remainder of the NJCAA Region I Championship resumes on Tuesday at Mesa Community College beginning at 5pm.
Click here for the complete finish of the event.
